An artist threw acid, dog bones and Stilton over her neighbour’s fence, stared into their windows and threatened to burn their house down, a court was told today.
Jennifer Hamper-Potts, 64, has been involved in a long-running dispute with her neighbours in Summerfield Road, West Wittering. Court documents suggest one of the issues is cars being parked over her driveway.
Today, Sussex Police Brighton Magistrates Court was asked to extend an interim stalking order to stop her harassing Caroline Edney ahead of a full hearing this summer.
Appearing for Sussex Police, David Reader said: “It’s an unpleasant neighbour dispute which went wrong.
“There has been a sustained campaign of harassment and stalking, including throwing things over the fence, standing on laddders looking over the fence, staring into the property and threats made to the neighbour.”
The application for the full order says: “The defendant verbally abused Edney and threw acid into her garden. Incidents have continued through 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.”
It said Hamper Potts was issued with a restraining order in 2021 after she assaulted two next door neighbours.
She also resisted and obstructed two police constables by kicking them.
The application said: “Edney reported that a large dog bone had been thrown over the fence from Hamper Potts which went onto the roof of Edney’s property bounced off and landed by her front door.
“Other events include: Dog bone and tomatoe slice thrown over fence, Silton cheese and flan were thrown over. Defendant previously mentioned
about attracting rats.
“Defendant allowed dogs to charge, nipping at legs and causing fear and allowing dogs to cause harassment and fear.
“Defendant came outside to receive food delivery when Edney got into her car and stood right by her car looking at her making eye contact. She also told the food delivery driver not to worry about Edney in terms of blocking the drive and she stood in the way of her drive.
“Her dog ran in front of Edney’ car and the defendant danced in the road as if intoxicated. She also threatened to burn Edney’s house down, A threat with no name given said ITS YOUR LIFE OR DEATH. Unclear how threat received.
“Other incidents include banging on fence, verbal abuse, hitting car, trying to get workman to work for her instead of Edney and other incidents.”
District judge Amanda Kelly agreed to extend the interim stalking protection order, which was originally made in June last year.
It bans Hamper-Potts from contacting Caroline Edney, including following her, filming her or climbing ladders to watch her.
However, the order sys she is allowed to take pictures of any vehicle blocking her driveway, as long as it’s from her own property, “and taken for the purpose of complying with the request of the local council enforcement team. Said photographs must be shown to her police managing officer (on the device upon which they were taken) on request, to ensure compliance (failure to show the photographs to the Police Managing Officer with constitute a breach of this term)”
She is also banned from approaching anyone working or visiting Ms Edney and making any reference to her on social media or the Nextdoor website.
